Jun 9th, 2010 at 8:30AM: As the social media monstrosity known as Twitter continues to grow by the nanosecond (did you know that the Whole Foods in Evanston, IL is now on Twitter?), more and more companies in the travel industry are now taking advantage of their followers to lure in new sales.
Sure it's just another marketing technique, but where travel consumers and producers can really benefit is in the wholesaling ...Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
unitedairlines posts
For last second fares, watch for United's Twares
Jun 9th, 2010 at 8:30AM: As the social media monstrosity known as Twitter continues to grow by the nanosecond (did you know that the Whole Foods in Evanston, IL is now on Twitter?), more and more companies in the travel industry are now taking advantage of their followers to lure in new sales.
Sure it's just another marketing technique, but where travel consumers and producers can really benefit is in the wholesaling ...Delta tops list of "most complained about" U.S. airlines
Jun 7th, 2010 at 12:30PM: Travel + Leisure just released a survey that compiled airline complaint information from the Department of Transportation. In it, the number of complaints per 100,000 passengers were collected. The results are not much of a surprise - the legacy airlines take up the top spots, followed by low cost airlines and regional feeders.
Here are the top 5 airlines from the list:
Delta Airlines - ...Roller Girl busted for stealing 525 tickets from United Airlines
Jun 4th, 2010 at 11:00AM: Mercedes Stafford, the president of the Cincinnati Roller Girls pleaded guilty yesterday to illegally obtaining more than 500 airline tickets.
Stafford, who is known as "Sadistic Sadie" in her roller team works as a ticketing agent for United Airlines at Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport and figured out a way to issue herself free tickets.
Her system involved printing ...Microsoft Zune becomes exclusive audio provider for United Airlines In-Flight Entertainment
Jun 3rd, 2010 at 1:30PM:
In a smart marketing move, Microsoft's Zune service has become the exclusive audio provider for United Airlines In-Flight Entertainment. Of course, this does not mean all passengers will be handed a Zune, the collaboration merely means the music experts behind Zune put together the music on all United Airlines domestic and international flights.
The 21 channels of digital programming ...Top ten best airlines revealed in 2010 World Airline Awards
May 25th, 2010 at 11:30AM: Spoiler alert: U.S. based airlines apparently all suck. At least, if you believe the results of the Skytrax 2010 World Airline Awards. The top ten airlines in the world are mostly from Asia. The only upside for U.S. based airlines is that no European airlines made it to the list either.
American airlines are only represented in the "best North American Airlines" results - and even there, Air ...New United Airlines livery still keeps a bit of Continental in the mix
May 3rd, 2010 at 2:30PM:
What you see here is the proposed final product of the United Airlines - Continental merger. As you can see, the new airline will fly with the United name, but keeps the globe logo from Continental.
digg_url = 'http://digg.com/travel_places/Proposed_New_Look_for_United_Continental_Planes'; I'm not sure what to make of it - but since these two airlines have been such important players in ...Continental and United Airlines approve merger
May 2nd, 2010 at 7:00PM: Two of the nation's largest airlines, United and Continental have taken one step closer to joining forces to becoming the world's largest carrier. Early last week, news in underground was that the two airlines were in high level talks to discuss merging operations. Things became more official with the announcement late last week that their respective boards had approved the undertaking.
The new ...BREAKING: United and Continental airlines to merge?
Apr 29th, 2010 at 4:44PM: We hear rumblings of airline mergers every day here at Gadling headquarters, but this one is starting to pick up traction. Chicago-based United Airlines and Houston-based Continental Airlines are reported to be in merger talks, with each respective board meeting to discuss possibilities and logistics this week.
What would a merger this mean for the average world traveler? The combined airline ...United Airlines finds $64 million lying around - thanks to your expiring miles
Apr 29th, 2010 at 3:30PM: Hands up if you have checked your mileage account, only to notice that you forgot to have any activity, and all your miles are gone.
Well, thanks to you, United Airlines just managed to make an extra $64 million.
The bonus bucks were earned thanks to a new accounting method and a huge stash of previously undiscovered expiring miles.
So, yes - air miles are big, big business. So big in ...Airlines try for more edible food options
Apr 13th, 2010 at 3:30PM: Let's not even bother with the jokes - we all know airplane food is awful. But these days, with most carriers looking for new sources of revenue, several of the major airlines have been stepping up the quality and taste factor of their on-board food offerings.
The days of free (and terrible) airplane meals are coming to an end. With Continental, the last carrier to offer complimentary in-flight ...New United Airlines rule change means no more free same-day travel changes
Apr 12th, 2010 at 1:30PM: A new change at United Airlines can be summed up with "this sucks". The change involves same-day flight changes. In the past, if a flight had open seats, you could change your ticket to a confirmed seat, without any fees. Additionally, you could often walk up to a ticketing desk, and have yourself added to the unconfirmed standby list for free - and if a seat opened up, you'd be on that earlier ...Next candidates for an airline merger - United Airlines and US Airways?
Apr 8th, 2010 at 2:30PM: In what can probably be described as "just a matter of time", rumors are heating up about a possible United Airlines / US Airways merger.
The push for this kind of consolidation is being fueled by the last big airline merger - that of Delta Airlines and Northwest Airlines. Of course, anyone who has followed the aviation world will know that a United/US merger has been in the news before. The ...United Airlines announces wireless check-in and paperless boarding passes
Mar 12th, 2010 at 7:00PM: A mere 24 hours after American Airlines announced the expansion of their paperless boarding passes, United Airlines becomes more mobile with their own services. The United Airlines announcement involves two new technologies - mobile check-in and paperless boarding passes.
With mobile check-in, you simply point your mobile browser to mobile.united.com, and enter your flight information. If you ...Yet another video from Dave Carroll of United Breaks Guitars
Mar 3rd, 2010 at 10:30AM: Elliott.org, Chris Elliotts excellent travel blog, posted the third United Airline's bashing video from Dave Carroll, the man behind United Breaks Guitars. That's right, a third song and video. Did you even know that there had been a second? Look, we get it, United broke this dude's guitar. And the airline has a pretty dodgy customer service record. Most American legacy carriers do. And people ...
United Airlines snags first place in 2009 on-time performance
Feb 13th, 2010 at 10:00AM: Yesterday, United Airlines announced that they had climbed to the first place for on-time performance among the five largest global carriers in the country. This means United performed better than Delta (including Northwest), American Continental and US Airways.
On-time performance means the plane arrived at its destination within 14 minutes of its scheduled arrival time. Their 2009 performance ...Turn your phone off when told to - or risk being kicked off your flight
Jan 28th, 2010 at 5:30PM: Anyone that has flown knows that the cabin crew will make a big deal about having all passengers turn electronic devices off as soon as the cabin doors are closed. Of course, there are always a couple of people that need a little extra reminding. Then there are of course those passengers that need to make a call that is apparently so important, they'll ignore all requests to turn their phone off. ...Another new day, another drunk passenger tries to open the aircraft door mid-flight
Jan 24th, 2010 at 12:00PM: Rarely does a week go by without a flight being diverted because someone became "unruly".
tweetmeme_url = 'http://www.gadling.com/2010/01/24/another-new-day-another-drunk-passenger-tries-to-open-the-aircr/'; tweetmeme_source = 'Gadling';
These incidents are often pretty innocent, involving a drunk passenger trying to harass fellow passengers. But every now and then the really insane (or ...US Airways the latest to increase extra bag fee
Jan 16th, 2010 at 2:00PM: US Airways has joined the ranks of airlines increasing their fees for extra baggage. The low cost carrier is raising its extra baggage fees by $5 each way, which is comparable to the increases levied by Delta, Continental and United. With the new charge, US Airways will be charging $25 for the first bag checked, with a second bag costing you $35 each way. The new fee takes effect on February 1, ...United Airlines pilot pleads guilty to intoxication
Jan 5th, 2010 at 2:30PM: Back in November, Tom wrote about a United Airlines pilot who was pulled from his flight minutes before take-off when his fellow crew members suspected he was drunk.
The pilot, Erwin Washington was scheduled to fly from London Heathrow to Chicago when the authorities asked him to take a breathalyzer test. He recorded 31mg/100, which is more than three times over the legal limit.
Because no ...Security at its best: plane returns to destination (for nothing) after "do not fly list" confusion
Jan 3rd, 2010 at 12:00PM: Plane takes off, then ground crew notices plane passenger is on "do not fly list", plane turns back to airport, passenger not really on "do not fly list".
That dear readers, is the short version of a breakdown in security.
The moronic incident took place on board a GoJet flight, operating as United Express. The plane departed St. Louis airport, destined for O'Hare. Before take-off, the ...
